Longtime Reporter Explains Why He Still Covers Holmes County

A long time Holmes County journalist used a recent column to explain why he remains in the newsroom after nearly three decades, pointing to the civic life and everyday efforts of neighbors as the central reason he keeps reporting. The column was published on Nov. 8, 2025 and updated on Nov. 14, and it cited I Love to Write Day on Nov. 15 as a moment to reflect on the craft and its purpose.

At the top of the column the writer identifies community members, volunteers, business owners, teachers and neighbors as the people who give reporting meaning. The piece ties routine acts of service and small local achievements to the broader value of local journalism, arguing that coverage of these activities records the county story and helps hold institutions accountable. The columnist emphasized that sharing community accomplishments and good deeds is the most meaningful part of the work.

The column includes personal context to illustrate that point. The writer recounts his wife Ann’s retirement after 37 years as an elementary teacher, and credits an early influence from a high school humanities teacher for steering him toward a life of observation and explanation. Those personal details are used to show how journalism grows out of relationships and sustained attention to the places where people live and work.

For Holmes County residents the column serves as a reminder of why local reporting matters beyond headlines. Coverage of volunteers, local businesses and schools does more than acknowledge good work, it documents civic life, informs civic choices and surfaces gaps where public institutions need attention. In small communities such reporting can shape voter understanding, influence public policy debates and encourage more people to volunteer or engage with local boards and organizations.

The piece also speaks indirectly to questions about the future of community newspapers and the staffing that makes consistent coverage possible. By focusing on individual stories and everyday civic action, the columnist illustrates how sustained local reporting contributes to civic cohesion and institutional transparency, both of which are essential to democratic accountability at the county level.

Readers who want to see the full opinion piece can find it at the link above. The column closes with a reflection that after nearly 30 years the strongest motivation to keep writing remains the people of Holmes County, whose efforts and stories form the substance of community life and the reason local journalism continues to matter.